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Leviidev/Henge

An iOS and iPadOS app that downloads, installs and runs macOS on iPhone or iPad through its own arm64 emulator.

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Last commit
23 hours ago

What is it?

Henge runs macOS on iPhone and iPad. iOS does not give apps a hypervisor, so Henge runs the Mac's arm64 code through its own JIT, with its own MMU and virtual devices, rather than using QEMU or Virtualization.framework. It downloads Apple's restore image and installs macOS on the device itself, without needing a Mac.

macOS draws through a virtual GPU whose commands Henge replays with Metal, so Safari and Electron apps such as Discord display on screen. Touch input uses a trackpad model, and on iPad a Magic Keyboard or Bluetooth keyboard and mouse control the Mac directly. Copy and paste and a shared folder connect the Mac with Files on the device once the Mac side is set up in Terminal.

The project requires iOS or iPadOS 17 or later on an A14 or M1 chip or newer and a JIT-enabling setup. It has so far been tested only on an iPhone 17 Pro, and it runs slower than a real Mac.

Key features

  • 01Installs macOS directly on iPhone or iPad from Apple's restore image.
  • 02Runs Mac arm64 code through a custom JIT and virtual devices.
  • 03Draws macOS through a virtual GPU replayed with Metal.
  • 04Offers a trackpad-style touch interface with a modifier key bar.
  • 05Supports Magic Keyboard and Bluetooth mice and keyboards on iPad.
  • 06Shares the clipboard and a folder between macOS and the Files app.

Use cases

  • Trying macOS on an iPad when no Mac is available.
  • Running macOS-only apps such as Safari or Discord on a mobile device.
  • Studying how an arm64 emulator, JIT and virtual GPU fit together.

In collections

Open-source Mac apps

Topics

#emulation#macos#ios#ipados#arm64#jit#virtualization

FAQ

What is Henge?
An iOS and iPadOS app that downloads, installs and runs macOS on iPhone or iPad through its own arm64 emulator. Henge runs macOS on iPhone and iPad. iOS does not give apps a hypervisor, so Henge runs the Mac's arm64 code through its own JIT, with its own MMU and virtual devices, rather than using QEMU or Virtualization.framework. It downloads Apple's restore image and installs macOS on the device itself, without needing a Mac.
Is Henge free to use? What license does it have?
Henge is open source under the GPL-2.0 license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is Henge still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to Henge was on Nov 6, 2026.
What can I use Henge for?
Trying macOS on an iPad when no Mac is available. Running macOS-only apps such as Safari or Discord on a mobile device. Studying how an arm64 emulator, JIT and virtual GPU fit together.
Where can I get Henge?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/Leviidev/Henge

Summary generated by AI from the project's README. GitHub stats refresh daily.

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